ASEAN-Australia special summit has much work to do on women’s role in peace and security

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Disclosure statement

Susan Hutchinson has undertaken consulting work with the Australian Government on the implementation of women, peace and security agenda. Susan is the architect of the 'prosecute; don't perpetrate' campaign calling on governments to investigate and prosecute their own nationals for sexual violence perpetrated as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide while fighting with Da'esh in Syria and Iraq. She is also a member of the Australian Civil Society Coalition on Women, Peace and Security.

ASEAN members and Australia have a lot to talk about to improve their understanding and implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Discussions should include barriers to women’s participation in regional peace and security institutions, countering violent extremism, foreign fighters, sexual violence in conflict, and the Rohingya crisis.

Women’s role in peace and security initiatives

The Women, Peace and Security agenda came into being in October 2000. The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution that requires member states to protect women from sexual violence in armed conflict and increase women’s participation in conflict prevention, mitigation, resolution, relief and recovery. Since passing this resolution, the Security Council has passed seven more resolutions on the agenda.

A worryingly high number of foreign fighters travelled from ASEAN countries to Syria and Iraq to fight with Da’esh and other extremist groups. Indonesians represent the second highest nationality of foreign fighters arrested in Turkey. In part, this may be because of the number of women, children, and whole families who have travelled to Syria and Iraq. But the statistic is still alarming.

Some estimates have over 100 foreign fighters from both Malaysia and the Philippines. But other estimates place the overall number of foreign fighters from South East Asia at over 1000. This includes a unit of 700 people largely from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, but also a few from Singapore.

Deradicalisation and reintegration of returned fighters requires a comprehensive social policy approach, specifically involving women, who are vital contributors to the community and social networks.

When sexual violence is perpetrated as part of an armed conflict, it is a war crime. When that violence is widespread or systematic, it’s a crime against humanity. When it’s used to destroy in whole or in part, an ethnic, racial or religious group, it is genocide.

Australia is also a signatory. Australia has called for investigations and prosecutions of these crimes.

Both the foreign minister and attorney-general have stated Australia will investigate and prosecute alleged perpetrators. The logistics and funding of this are yet to be resolved. But Indonesia has asked for a regional approach to the issue of foreign fighters, so there may be benefit to discussing regional approaches to investigation and prosecution.

The elephant in the room

In any ASEAN Women, Peace and Security discussion, the elephant in the room is the Rohingya crisis. The evidence that Burmese forces have used sexual violence as a weapon of war and a tool of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya is overwhelming. Human Rights Watch has reported the actions of the military, border police and militias amount to crimes against humanity under international law.

When Pacific countries were initially coming to terms with their obligations, the Pacific Islands Forum developed a regional action plan. Perhaps ASEAN could do the same. As promised in the Sydney Declaration, such a plan would certainly show a commitment “to the principles of the women, peace and security agenda and to strengthen collaboration on promoting the role of women in building and sustaining peace.”

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrive for photographs ahead of a bilateral meeting during the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney on March 17, 2018.
Dan Himbrechts/AAP